Yankees shutting Banuelos down for rest of season

Via Andrew Marchand, the Yankees have decided to shut top pitching prospectManny Banuelos down for the rest of the season in hopes of getting him healthy in time for winter ball. The 21-year-old southpaw has thrown just 24 innings this year due to a minor back problem and a non-structural elbow injury that VP of Baseball Ops Mark Newman described as a bone bruise.

“He’ll recover from this,” said Newman. “That’s what our doctors say. We have no doubt about it. At this point, there is no reason to push it. We are trying to be as prepared as we can for next season.” The Yankees could sent Banuelos to the Arizona Fall League, but that’s a rough environment for a young pitcher. A trip home to Mexico or one of the other Latin American winter leagues could be in order, assuming the elbow actually heals up at some point. A few weeks ago we heard that Banuelos was on a throwing program.

Hughes does have a sub-4 ERA in the AL East right now. Not saying this makes him an ace or anything, but that’s certainly good enough to qualify as a mid-rotation starter at least.

pat

And Nova actually is rocking a career high in bb and k/9, he’s just getting destroyed when he makes mistakes. IMHO he needs to get back to pounding the zone with his FB instead of trying to do his Maddux impression and painting the corners with offspeed stuff.

Robinson Tilapia

He just cited two pitchers on the starting rotation of arguably the best team in baseball, pitching in the best division in baseball. They’d be Opening Day starters on some teams.

This is the problem with this argument. It quickly degenerates into “The Yankees don’t develop pitchers I like.”

Mister D

“If you can’t go back in time and make Sabathia a Yankee draft pick, we’re not going to agree.”

But citing #1 overall picks and guys acquired in trades when almost MLB ready is ok… Interesting…

Laz

You would have rather have Garza and his 3.91 era in a easier division than Hughes’s 3.96 era?

Mister D

I wonder what a Nationals fan 18 months ago would have said with Strasburg and Zimmerman both out with TJS.

Robinson Tilapia

They don’t count because they’re not TEH YANKEEEES enough.

Robinson Tilapia

The argument should have ended here.

Your frustration at what you watch on TV does not equal the franchise’s inability to develop starting pitching.

Let the Yankees work on their issues. You go work on your frustration tolerance….

…..as well as your flatulence issues around women.

The Real Greg

That’s enough.

I let it go for one day. Let’s stop it.

Robinson Tilapia

Of all the things we said, FARTING got to you?

Jim Is Bored

He’s annoyed because now that he’s being serious and his points are being refuted mercilessly, it’s less fun to be made fun of.

If he’d just drop inane discussion points, he’d be happier.

Tremont

The Yanks also mustered David Phelps this year. He has given you no reason to believe that he isn’t going to be a good starter.

Tremont

By my count the Yankees produced the 16 current big league pitchers over the past 5 years; Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Clippard, Coke, Aceves, McAllister, Karstens, Ohlendorf, Robertson, Melancon, Mike Dunn, Nova, Kontos, Noesi, and Phelps. I wonder how many other teams (if any) can rival that in quantity of big league pitchers in 5 years. Granted there isn’t an ace in the bunch, but those are hard to come by when you are drafting 28th and later every season.

Steve

Isn’t Noesi currently in AAA?

Tremont

Is he? If so, make it 15. And I might well be missing a player or two.

The Real Greg

despite the fact that the injuries aren’t the Yankees fault

Robinson Tilapia

More of an irrational lack of confidence in Mexicans.

Kevin G.

The Curse of the Killer B’s

Bartolo’s Colon

what a shit year for prospects

Ted Nelson

If 3 young guys break the top 50 in “shit years”… Hopefully every year is shit…

A.D.

So much for that “close” return

yoo-boo

It is good thing that he is only 21 years old. Healing elbow completely could help him pitch sharper, I hope.

RE Junior

I still haven’t lost hope.2013 will be an interesting year for the Yankee players returning from injury

Ted Nelson

Why would anyone have lost hope?

http://bloodfarm.tumblr.com mattdamonwayans

I always forget that he is just 21. He has plenty of time to recover from this down year and become the pitcher that his past performance hinted he could be.

I blame the nickname, The Killer B’s. Remember back in the 80’s when people thought killer bees would have made the U.S. 50% uninhabitable? Flash forward some decades and nothing doing.

Should have nicknamed them something that delivered like The Police Academy.

Betances = Hightower
ManBan = Mahoney
Brackman = Tackleberry

I bet you they would have superstars then.

Robinson Tilapia

I blame Jumpin’ Jim Brunzell.

Gonzo

Did anyone else think it was weird that Rick Martel’s cologne came in a pesticide canister?

I’ll blame the canister too.

http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Haha ….”Arrogance”

Robinson Tilapia

Small spritzer bottles don’t come off as well on TV.

http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

I’ll blame Bee Brian Blair

Robinson Tilapia

Brunzell was the class of the team. Blair was just buddies with Hogan down in Tampa.

Ro

2013:

1. CC

2. Kuroda – It’s happening whether some like it or not. He’s exactly in the Yanks wheel-house and type of pitcher they like. Plus he’s a 1 yr guy and considering everything we’ve heard about the “luxury tax $189mm” number, I just don’t see the Yanks making any large pitching commitment this offseason. Not with their younger depth.

3. Pettitte – Is this shitty injury going to propel him into another season (one last blast with Jeter and Mo?) – probably. Not unless he come completely apart when he returns in September, but I don’t see that happening.

4. Hughes

5. Pineda

Banuelos – May 2013 when the inevitable injury happens to someone in the rotation.

What about Phelps? I have no idea what the Yanks are going to do with him. Nova? Could he be traded in the offseason? Keep Nova and trade Hughes? Possibly, but I see a greater chance of them moving Nova first, more control, cheaper…

A.D.

If the Yanks bring back Kuroda and Pettitte I imagine other pitching ie Hughes/Nova has been traded so that you have what you describe with 4 being the survivor and 5 Pineda assuming healthy with Phelps as a back-up

Robinson Tilapia

Certainly one scenario out of many.

Gun to my head, one of Kuroda/Pettitte sticks around.

CC
Kuroda/Pettitte
Hughes
Nova
Phelps/FA

Pineda works his way back up. Banuelos begins to work himself in for a possible 2014 full-time slot. Phelps does not have a huge window to crack this rotation, but he’s in the argument. He did his job this year, which is put his name in the mix.

Ro

When you look around at the entire pitching crop for the offseason, both trade and free agent, my money’s on the Yanks bringing back both Pettitte (provided this is what he wants) and Kuroda. Given the ones that might be available Lirano over Pettitte? Probably not. An Arrieta type? Possible, but will cost a little. I’m having a very hard time seeing who would fit into the Yanks rotation right now outside of who they currently have. Haren? eh..maybe, but don’t see it. Justin Masterson. Nah. You go up and down the rosters and I just don’t see a pitcher the Yanks can get that really makes a lot of sense. They dodged the bullet on Danks for this year, so I don’t see them really looking at him again at this point. None of the big names i.e Grienke are coming…

I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see the Yanks trade Hughes this offseason. Could they prefer Nova over him. Does Hughes have more appeal to other teams in a trade. Maybe.

As for Pineda, we’ll see how he’s doing soon hopefully. They should probably have him start stretching and weight training around November/December right?

What I am really trying to determine is just how Banuelos factors into the 2013 team. Part of me feels like he’ll play a little bigger part than some of us think. I don’t know though.

YanksFanInBeantown

Nova has more trade value than Hughes because of the extra team control, though.

Ro

Which is what I pretty much alluded too above. I still think that Hughes might have greater appeal to other teams, however. Hughes has a higher ceiling. Better true stuff. Nova is more of a “lighting in a bottle type.”

JohnnyC

So Hughes has a higher ceiling but we should trade him and keep a guy who’s “lighting in a bottle type.” Geez, I hope Cashman’s not on your speed dial.

Robinson Tilapia

I think it’s very possible Banuelos pitches himself into a role in 2013. If all goes well recovery-wise for him, though. I see 2013 more as the year the transition to the bigs begin. Unforseen things can, and will, happen, though, so I don’t think you’re far off at all there.

I actually don’t think they trade either Hughes or Nova unless something ridiculous pops up. Hughes is going to be an incredibly tough decision for this team. Final year of arbitration, with still some questions as to whether he’s a better option with an extension/new contract than bringing someone else in would be. I’m glad I’m not a GM. Nova’s cost-controlled for a while. Hard to give up, no matter what his last handful of starts have looked like.

Cris Pengiucci

Based on his injury history, I see 2013 as a season to build up innings for Banuelos, with an eye on the rotation for 2014. I hope both Kuroda and Pettitte return, but suspect only one of them will do so. As others have mentioned, it is possible Nova (more likely, in my opinion) or Hughes gets traded for an OF. Leaving:

CC
Pettitte/Kuroda
Hughes/Nova
Phelps
Pineda

The window should be open for Phelps. I think he deserves the chance and hope that he capitalizes.

YanksFanInBeantown

The issue with Nova is that at some point we have to wonder whether the handful of starts we should be throwing out is the run he had after being recalled last year, when his numbers before and since look pretty similar.

http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

this is the way I see it, too. They’re not going to do Kuroda AND Pettitte on one-year deals again.

I can’t see them doing three straight years of piecing a rotation together with one-year deals to wait for “the youngsters to get ready.” they’ve waited long enough.

This was a make or break year for Hughes and he made it.

This was a “give B & B one more full year at AAA,” and they didn’t make it. ManBan has to pitch well in Winter Leagues or they’re going to move on (in the sense of looking for a FA or making a trade).

They’ll still give ManBan a shot, but the timetable is done. Their perception of “waiting” until he’s ready to join the rotation is done.

BeanTooth

Done? At 21? I don’t think even the Yanks are that impatient.

Robinson Tilapia

I see what you’re saying. I think he’s still young, though. I think he becomes less the sexy name, but your hype and your development curve are two different things. Even if he falls on the prospect chart, it doesn’t lessen his potential impact. I wouldn’t be too concerned as to Brett Marshall or Nik Turley completely overshadowing me right now.

Sweet Dick Willie

but the timetable is done. Their perception of “waiting” until he’s ready to join the rotation is done.

Insert burrito meme.

Tremont

Why wouldn’t they want Kuroda and Pettitte on one year deals regardless of what Banuelos is doing? They aren’t simply place holders. They are very good major league pitchers.

Chip

Pineda isn’t going to be back until May I believe. You can probably put Nova in that spot and Phelps might get a spot if Pettitte doesn’t come back. Still a pretty solid group and you never know what’ll happen in the offseason

crawdaddy

It’s too early to know for sure when Pineda will be back. It depends on how his rehab progresses.

YanksFanInBeantown

And on how much Joba sweat he drinks to accelerate the healing process.

Farsnworth

Yikes, that looks terrible. Is Pineda even going to be ready to start the year? I can’t picture Pettitte wanting to come back. Kuroda sounds good but he will be a year older. Banuelos wasn’t good enough to crack the rotation when he was healthy, that’s not going to change in the course of a month or two. Nova and Phelps for the back is fine.

Ro

How does that look terrible? Jury out on Pineda. I think this injury with Pettitte may fuel him to want to come even more if anything, but I guess we’ll learn a lot about that in September based on how he looks. The fact that Kuroda is a year older is both relevant and irrelevant to the point that he is still very effective and again, given the choices of who could be available to the Yanks, Kuroda looks to be a far better investment. I’m not advocating the Yanks offer him a 2-3 year deal, because that’s not happening, but for another year ala Jones and Chavez, Kuroda fits the mold perfectly. I don’t know about Banuelos “not being good enough.” While true to an extent, it just wasn’t his time yet.

Robinson Tilapia

A month’s worth of pitching wasn’t going to mean much in the long run. This is absolutely the right decision. Start fresh next year. Still young as hell.

Andy Pettitte’s Fibula (formerly Manny’s BanWagon)

A bone bruise is a traumatic injury, not from pitching and it sounds like Newman was a little annoyed.

According to ESPN Yankees blog:

The Yankees are unsure how the original injury occurred.

“That’s a good question,” Newman said.

Strat

Gotta get Manny under the bright hot lights and grill him.

Newman: “You’re being foolish… Ve have vays oof making you talk”

Robinson Tilapia

“Where were you on the night of May 14th? Was there a guy named Greg with you? Did he look sad?”

JohnnyC

Maybe an Amare-like incident where he took out some early season frustration on an immoveable object?

Mike Myers

I dont understand all the anger…the yanks are far out in 1st. For playoff baseball you need 3 decent pitchers and an Ace.

Yankees have the Ace in CC for a while…behind that next year
-Hughes
-Nova
-Andy
-Kuroda
-Phelps
-Pineda
-ManBan
-Free Agent

thats a lot of choices. its all good fellas.

cashmoney

Another one bites the dust. Young pitchers are such fragile commodity. The good is that Pineda and Manbam are both young. Time will tell how much if any can these two contribute to 13 starting rotation if any.
Either way, it’s disappointing when crown jewels like Mason and Bam are out of equation for the season.

Ted Nelson

Mason is out for a few weeks of the season…

Nathan

Hughes/Joba/Kennedy were overhyped.

Killer B’s remain to be seen.

Ro

Stop. So many young pitchers that are rated highly flame out or take a lot of time to mature and become good pitchers. Harrison is a great example of this. I don’t like the word “overhyped.” It’s a numbers game and the Yanks have Pineda, Baneulos, Campos, even Marshall. My money’s on DePaula being the one that surprises everyone. Point being, they have a few strong arms and even if one works out to be really good, the Yanks win. I’m guessing two out of the group I reference above turn out to be damn fine pitchers soon.

Robinson Tilapia

All three are mainstays on major league rosters, two of them on arguably the best team in baseball. Give me a break.

Jim Is Bored

Bet last year you were one of the OMG HOW DID WE LET KENNEDY GO guys.

Tremont

You’re wrong on both counts. Hughes and Joba had monster upside, and despite not living up to it they will likely have long, successful major league careers. Kennedy is in the midst of a fine major league career. He’s about as good as anyone could have imagined. He’s better than I thought he would ever be.

Two of the three Killer B’s are another bad year away from pitching for the Long Island Ducks. Banuelos does remain to be seen.

Jamey

On the plus side Banuelos also having a forgettable 2012 debunks the “RAB Prospect Watch Curse”, doesn’t it?

What is the incentive on Kuroda’s (or Kuroda’s agent’s) part for coming back for a single year? He’s demonstrated he can pitch effectively in the AL East. Seems there would be at least one other team willing to offer him a two-year deal…

I’d love to see him come back for a year, but even at a fairly high salary that appears to represent a hometown discount for a guy who could command two guaranteed years. He ain’t Andy or even Eric Chavez. What am I missing, aside from his age?

http://yankeesblogtbnl.blogspot.com Derek

At this point I would try to bring him back too. Ideally 1 year contract, but possibly stretch to two, hopefully not much higher than salary than what they got him for this year.

Money will be there though (for a short term deal) especially if Swisher is gone.

Robinson Tilapia

It seemed like he was perfectly content headed home after the offseason and that the challenge of pitching for the Yankees lured him back. The challenge of pitching in Tropicana Field may not have the same lure to it. ;)

Rooting for U.S. Steel

You’re saying you can’t put a Price on pitching for the Rays?

jjyank

Haha, well done.

Reggie C.

I think Kuroda specifically targeted a high salary one year deal last off season. Hence, that’s why he initially asked for $12 million only to see no real market materialize.

Should Kuroda decide to continue pitching stateside, recent history probably holds and he’ll once more look for a 1 year deal at a higher salary.

Darren

If you were Kuroda, why wouldn’t you hire Boras and get a 3-5 year deal worth $30-$50mm? Certainly possible, if he continues to pitch as he has been doing. One or two good playoff starts and that type of deal is a slam dunk. Thanks Yanks!

Ro

“If you were Kuroda, why wouldn’t you hire Boras and get a 3-5 year deal worth $30-$50mm? Certainly possible, if he continues to pitch as he has been doing. One or two good playoff starts and that type of deal is a slam dunk.”

Every GM collectively slams down the phone at the same time!!

He ain’t getting more than another 1 year deal. It should be pointed out that Kuroda didn’t and probably still doesn’t want to pitch for many teams. It was Dodgers, Yanks, Red Sox. He dodged a major bullet with the Sox. Could a situation develop where the Dodgers try to resign him this offseason. Maybe offer him a 2 year deal MAX! That’s possible, I suppose, but it seems like they will be working on some bigger things, such as hopefully (I say hopefully to divert attention away) acquiring Cliff Lee. Perhaps going after Grienke or someone else. They also have to work something out with Kershaw soon as well. Outside of that, I can’t think of a single other team that would appeal to Kuroda over the Yanks right now. It’s a good match.

Got A Question For The Mailbag?

The Gleyber Torres Watch

Gleyber's season is over. He suffered a torn left (non-throwing) elbow ligament on a play at the plate on June 17th and had Tommy John surgery on June 21st. He is expected to be ready in time for Spring Training 2018. The Prospect Watch Curse strikes again!